[TheForge] Cast Iron

[Bruce Freeman]

Cast iron itself stands up well to heat.  You should be concerned about what ELSE is there.  However, DON'T use a forge fire.  Cast iron melts at a lower temperature than steel, and you just might BAM your machine!  The weed-burner idea is a better one.

However, I'd suggest skipping the heat and submerging the whole thing in kerosene or paint thinner.  Give it a few days to soak before messing with it, then go at it with a wire brush.  

If you don't have a convenient container for this, use the "battleship in a bathtub" trick.  Put the machine in a large heavy plastic bag. (Double bagging is a good idea.)  Surround the bag with sand or other fill to take up space - making a custom-shaped container.  Then add the solvent.  Tie the bag closed.

If you're committed to using heat, try it in moderation.  Make a brick "oven" to surround the machine, then WARM the over to, perhaps, 212F (100C). This should soften the gunk a LOT and make it easy to remove.

Bruce
NJ

>>> rick at smokyforge.com 2/13/2006 6:58:45 PM >>>
Hi Guys -

    I am not someone who knows much about cast iron.  I have an old power 
hack saw that I am cleaning and trying to resurrect.  It is under layersw of 
grease and even more layers of paint.  What I need to know is, will it hurt 
cast iron to go into the forge fire for a while to burn off some of this 
crap?  I would save LOTS of time and trouble if I could burn it off without 
damaging the parts.  Has anyone done this successfully, or does someone know 
that it shouldn't be done?

Wondering,
Rick Crawford at Rafter Lazy C
  Home of Smoky Forge and Lem the Wonder Mule
   In the middle of Northern Illinois

    http://www.smokyforge.com 
     rick at smokyforge.com 



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